The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-07-21


you that love you, and it is not likely that
should say such thing and at the same
time be carrying on, as you term it-with
another man But think that our attach
ment is altogether an unfortunate affair.
know I've done wrong in encouraging you,
but have not been able to help loving you
Don't you think that we had better not
meet any more and try to forget all that
| has passed between usr
The young officer stared in amaZement
| and exclaimed: why, Oracle, you don't
mean to say that you're gong to throw me
| over like thisr
mo, Bob, don't want to do anything OF
the sort" replied the girl; ''but l am anx-
| ious to act for your good-for the good OF
both OF us-really, truly and honestly, L
do. Please don't accuse me Of any other
| motive. Just think over our position. On
| the one side there is you-heir to great
| name, your father a proud, rich man. On
| the other side, here am Ia milliner's shop
girl. What would your father say-what
would the world say, if you were to make
me your wife!'
"What do / care about what the Gov
ernor or the world would say!" exclaimed
her lover. 81 am Of age. Ny father has
no influence over me, except to cut me out
| of his will. You're lady, Oracle; know
that although you're In shop and there's
no shame in that. By Jove! you've only to
turn up the directory to see how the swells
are going in for commerce, and even for
trade. For Gods sake, then, Oracle, don't
send me away. Until knew you / wasn't
up to much good, although don't mean
that was BLACKBOARD. But since I've
known you I've changed, and would make
you just as good husband as many OF
those fellows who come with written char
acters in their pockets"
eyes. Bob, believe all that" answered
the girl ''But shouldn't be happy, even
as your wife, if was scorned by your PEG
pie and pointed cut as a cunning schemer
who had put you in position out Of which
you could not get yourself, and saw you
left alone by all your relations and friends
because you had married girl out Of
bonnet shop'
'We'd keep out of their way, Oracle"
said the young man. $50 and live quietly
somewhere"
'sBut you can't get out Of the way Of
your brother officers" said the girl.
"Never mind about them" said Bob.
'But te return to Smith. What about hima
When know that you meet him and go
walking with him what am 1 to infer!''
Oracle hesitated for moment and then.
looking him full in the face. said: "Bob,
if tell you that you are the only man l
love in the world you would be satisfied.
But l implore you to think over what l
have said. Toni mean Mr.. Smiths an
old and dear friend of mine, and"
"There!" interposed the young man,
you've called him by his Christian name
Good heavens, Oracle, what does it all
meant"
The girl did not answer, and the Honor
able Bob after few more entreaties and
expostulations, took himself off in rage,
vowing that he would have it out with his
brother officer before he was many hours
older.
On his way to the barracks he met Smith,
and to his surprise, the latter opened fire
at once by saying: ~ say, Topsham,
wish you'd give me ten minutes talk in my
quarters"
1--WE come on purpose to ask the same
thing of you.' replied Bob, earnestly. But
you had better come into mine, as there's
less chance of being overheard
So they turned into Bob's quarters, and
each being supplied with a cigar, Smith
began:
p
must ask you to keep your temper"
"Well, Smith, replied Bob, sit will,
am afraid, under the circumstances, be
hard, but I'll do my level best. Now, then,
to the point!''
mo. You must promise"
GAN right, then, promise"
'I'm older than you are, and I'm entitled
to give you advice"
"Depends upon the subject
swell, you're in love with Oracle Clough,
aren't you!"
Eyes, am. But what Of that! What has
that to do with youi Who told you!"
~ found it out by accident-only day or
two ago. Now, do you think that you are
doing your duty both to her and to yourself
by persisting in an attachment of which
nothing can comer'
81 must answer with another question"
replied Bob. SIS it your business or any
other fellows to teach me my duty in case
like thisl"
Eyes, it is my duty to prevent unhappi-
ness and misery if 1 can, and that's why l
have asked you to give me ten minutes
talk. Oracle Clough is a milliner's girl
You are nobleman's eldest son."
1.-THE very words Oracle used to me, by
JoYer' said Bob to himself, feeling an i'm
pulse to lose his temper and say something
hasty; but remembering his promise in
time, he merely remarked:
"Well, what of that!'
al know your father, Lord Cray, WELL"
continued Smith.
''The dickens you dol That's more than
can say" replied the young man.
"And." Smith went on. ''he's not the sort
of a man to regard such a union-and, of
course, your aiming at nothing but union
with favor"
''No; he'd cut up Internally rough about
it, and that's why Iwant it kept dark" said
Bob Topsham.
"And he'd be quite right" remarked
Smith.
81 don't think So" said the younger Of
ficer. "But look here. Smith. The fact is
you're gone on the girl yourself, and YOU
think you'll get rid of me as rival by lee
turing me on what l ought and what /
oughtn't to do. Why don't you say so at
once, without so much beating about the
bushi"
What makes you think that I'm gone
upon her!" asked Smith.
"Why, Pve seen you meet her at night,
and go out for walk with her, and so have
the other fellows" replied Bob.
Smith started. This was evidently news
to him. Bob Topsham observed the effect
of his speech, and chuckled inwardly.
Then he said:
''Gracie has told me that she loves men
81 am sorry to hear it, replied Smith.
"Of course you are" said Bob. Just as
sorry as l am to know that she meets YOU
and walks out with you. 1t would make
many fellow think that she's no better
than she ought to be, but CAN'T
mo, no." said Smith, with energy,
''Don't think that; she's the best of girls.n
There was a nausa Smith hrolra -